Jogindranath, on the other hand, was gentle to a fault. One day, under
circumstances very like those that had evoked Niranjan's anger, he curbed
his temper and held his peace instead of threatening Sri Ramakrishna's
abusers. The Master, learning of his conduct, scolded him roundly. Thus
to each the fault of the other was recommended as a virtue. The guru was
striving to develop, in the first instance, composure, and in the second, mettle.
The secret of his training was to build up, by a tactful recognition of the
requirements of each given case, the character of the devotee.

Jogindranath came of an aristocratic brahmin family of Dakshineswar.
His father and relatives shared the popular mistrust of Sri Ramakrishna's
sanity. At a very early age the boy developed religious tendencies, spending
two or three hours daily in meditation, and his meeting with Sri Ramakrishna
deepened his desire for the realization of God. He had a perfect
horror of marriage. But at the earnest request of his mother he had had to
yield, and he now believed that his spiritual future was doomed. So he
kept himself away from the Master.

Sri Ramakrishna employed a ruse to bring Jogindra to him. As soon as
the disciple entered the room, the Master rushed forward to meet the young
man. Catching hold of the disciple's hand, he said: "What if you have
married? Haven't I too married? What is there to be afraid of in that?"
Touching his own chest he said: "If this [meaning himself] is propitious,
then even a hundred thousand marriages cannot injure you. If you desire
to lead a householder's life, then bring your wife here one day, and I shall
see that she becomes a real companion in your spiritual progress. But if you
want to lead a monastic life, then I shall eat up your attachment to the
world." Jogin was dumbfounded at these words. He received new strength,
and his spirit of renunciation was re-established.